Owner `to donate` Mahatma Gandhi`s belongings to India

Dharam Shourie

New York, Mar 3 (PTI) The US-based owner of Mahatma
Gandhi memorabilia, up for auction here this week, has offered
to "donate" the rare collection to India if it agrees to spend
five per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on the poor.

James Otis owns five personal belongings of Gandhi --
his metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a pair of sandals, and
a plate and bowl -- which India is under intense pressure to
acquire on the grounds they are part of its national heritage.

"... if the (Indian) government decides to allocate
five per cent of the GDP to or announces some major scheme for
the poor, who're very near to the heart of Gandhi or announces
some other scheme which would benefit them, I will even donate
these items," he said.

Otis told PTI that he has added two more items of
Gandhiji to the five already being auctioned. These include
his blood report from the then Irwin hospital in Delhi and a
signed telegram he sent to students participating in a non-
violent struggle at that time.

In fact, his statement came in the wake of several
Indian-American leaders including hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal,
announcing their intention to bid for the rare collection and,
if successful, hand it over to the Indian government.

However, it was not clear whether Otis would be able
to get out of the contract with auctioneers who get commission
on the sale proceeds, but he claimed that an arrangement could
be worked out with them.

Neither the Antiquorum Auctioneers' spokesperson was
available for comment nor an email sent elicit any response.

The auctioneers had earlier valued Gandhi's belongings
at around USD 20,000 to 30,000 but the controversy could raise
the price much higher. PTI